Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets and Cavaliers have reportedly agreed to a trade that will send center JaVale McGee to Denver in exchange for center Isaiah Hartenstein and two future protected second-round picks.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported terms of the deal. The Nuggets are able to fit McGee on to their roster using the traded player exception they acquired in the Jerami Grant deal this offseason. The structure of the deal leaves Denver $2.7 million under the NBA luxury tax, with $129.9 million in salary commitments.

Bobby Marks of ESPN noted the Nuggets receive a $1.6 million tax exception for completing the deal, whereas a $4.2 million exception goes to Cleveland.  

Here is a look at Denver's updated depth chart:

C: Nikola Jokic / JaVale McGee / Bol Bol
PF: Michael Porter Jr. / Paul Millsap / JaMychal Green / Zeke Nnaji
SF: Will Barton / Vlatko Cancar
SG: Monte Morris / PJ Dozier / R.J. Hampton
PG: Jamal Murray / Facundo Campazzo / Markus Howard 

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are finalizing a trade to send veteran big man JaVale McGee to the Denver Nuggets, according to Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Cavs will receive center Isaiah Hartenstein and two future protected second-round picks in return. Wojnarowski noted the second-round picks coming to Cleveland are a 2027 unprotected pick and a 2023 pick that's protected through No. 46.

Cleveland acquired the 33-year-old from the Los Angeles Lakers in November in a move that largely helped the NBA champions shed salary. Considering he is on an expiring contract and earning a modest $4.2 million salary, it seemed a matter of time before he would be shipped elsewhere.

Jarrett Allen's arrival from the Brooklyn Nets created a further logjam at center for the Cavs.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst reported Feb. 15 that Cleveland was planning to rest Andre Drummond with an eye toward getting him out the door.

Even when taking the Drummond situation into account, flipping McGee ahead of the trade deadline made the most sense, especially as the Cavs' 10-game losing streak in February erased all of the optimism they generated from an unexpectedly strong 9-9 start.

The Nevada product has experienced a bit of a renaissance in the second half of his NBA career. His two years with the Golden State Warriors showed he could be an effective role player on a championship team, and he collected a third ring last season with the Lakers.

McGee has continued to provide value inside for Cleveland. Through 33 games, he's averaging 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 15.2 minutes on the floor. According to NBA.com, he's also holding opponents to 45.5 percent shooting inside six feet and 46.2 percent inside 10 feet.

The 7'0" rim protector is still prone to the occasional misfire.

He doesn't do that with enough frequency to seriously hurt his team, though.

Between his salary and the trade capital it required to get him away from the Cavs, McGee is a low-cost solution to strengthen Denver's frontcourt. He doesn't single-handedly raise the team's championship ceiling, but this is one season in which proven depth is a luxury for any roster.

He should take over as the primary reserve behind All-Star center Nikola Jokic for the Nuggets. Hartenstein, who's averaging 3.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 30 games this season, occasionally filled that role before the swap.

Denver Nuggets All-Star center Nikola Jokic has said players shouldn't be distracted by trade rumors. 

Jokic explained his stance after the Nuggets' 135-111 blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, less than 24 hours before Thursday's 2021 NBA trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET.

"If they are [distracted], they are not professionals," Jokic told reporters. "First you represent yourself and then you represent [your] team. ... If you want to get traded, you don't play for yourself or Nuggets, in this case. You play for all 29 other teams. It's something that cannot happen. I don't see that. I mean, for me, it's unprofessional."

The 26-year-old Serbian, who added he wasn't calling out any of his own teammates specifically with the comments, is one of the league's best players and won't be moved before the deadline, but he's no stranger to dealing with speculation as the focus of some trade rumors earlier in his career.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone agreed the deadline shouldn't impact a player's performance.

"If you want to be a good team, which we say we want to be, you can't have performances like this," Malone said. "I don't buy into all that mumbo-jumbo trade deadline anxiety, this, that and the other thing. They got guys in their locker room that have trade deadline anxiety as well. Guess what? They went out there and balled tonight."

Forward Paul Millsap was more understanding of the uncertainty faced by those players who could have their lives changed by a deadline move.

"We're human beings, man," Millsap said. "We're humans. A lot of fans don't know that, obviously. We are human beings. It's just like anybody else, whose job could be on the line of relocating and moving the whole family in a situation. It's a tough thing to do, but it's part of the job description. ... Nobody likes to be relocated."

The remarks from Jokic and Malone were likely based on the frustration stemming from one of Denver's worst performances of the season. It struggled at both ends of the floor, shooting just 41.8 percent from the field while allowing Toronto make 50.6 percent of its field-goal attempts, including 24 made threes.

Although the Nuggets haven't been one of the more talked-about teams leading up to the deadline, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Tuesday they'd checked in on the availability of New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball, who would be a welcome addition to the backcourt alongside Jamal Murray.

Even if they don't land Ball, it wouldn't be a surprise to see them make a smaller move or two to bolster a roster that currently sits fifth in the Western Conference with a 26-18 record.

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was focused on much more than basketball prior to Tuesday's game against the Orlando Magic.

Malone honored the 10 victims of Monday's shooting in Boulder, Colorado, by reading their names and pausing after each one.

He also offered his thoughts to the loved ones of Denny Stong, Neven Stanisic, Rikki Olds, Tralona Bartkowiak, Suzanne Fountain, Teri Leiker, Kevin Mahoney, Lynn Murray, Jody Waters and police officer Eric Talley while urging for something to be done to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Amir Vera, Jason Hanna and Madeline Holcombe of CNN noted a 21-year-old suspect is facing 10 counts of first-degree murder in the shooting, which happened inside a King Soopers store.

The victims ranged from age 20 to 65.

This is not the first time Malone has used his time with the press to discuss a shooting in Colorado. In 2019, he talked about how necessary change is in the United States following a shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado.

The Denver Nuggets are reportedly interested in adding a veteran presence with a championship pedigree on the wing prior to Thursday's deadline. 

According to Mike Singer of the Denver Post, the Nuggets have explored acquiring Harrison Barnes in a deal with the Sacramento Kings. While the price in such a trade remains "unclear," it also wouldn't be a pure rental move because Barnes has two years remaining on his contract.

Denver reached last season's Western Conference Finals but may need to shore up its depth on the wing to make another deep playoff run after Jerami Grant and Torrey Craig both left in free agency.

Barnes has played for the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Kings throughout a career that started when he was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2012 draft. He won a championship with the Warriors in 2015.

The North Carolina product is averaging 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 36.9 percent from deep.

He would be an ideal candidate to take advantage of the space created by playing alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. He could hit from the outside when defenders collapse on Jokic or cut into openings when Murray penetrates and draws help.

Michael Porter Jr. (15.9 points) contributes in such a way and is the only other player on the Nuggets averaging better than 12.9 points per game this season.

Barnes would provide key secondary scoring and additional depth for Denver as it chases another run in the daunting Western Conference.

The Denver Nuggets are reportedly shopping shooting guard Gary Harris ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

The veteran would be used to potentially help offset salaries in a deal along with second-round picks. 

"Harris, a former cornerstone for the Nuggets, has dealt with a bunch of injuries and has otherwise struggled over the past few seasons," Vardon noted. "His number for this season is $19.1 million, but he's under contract for next season at nearly $20.5 million, too." 

Harris' play has been trending downward for a few seasons, with his 2020-21 campaign arguably the worst since his rookie season in 2014-15. 

Through 19 games, the starter is averaging 9.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 32.0 percent from behind the arc. If those hold, they would be Harris' worst numbers since his 2014-15 rookie season as a first-rounder out of Michigan State. 

Despite that, the Nuggets (25-17) have put together a solid year behind MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and are fifth in the Western Conference, just 5.5 games behind the Utah Jazz in first.

It's unclear which teams would be willing to take on Harris or his salary, but as the trade season continues to ramp up, it's possible his contract becomes a valuable tool to keep teams under the salary cap. 

One possible destination could be the Orlando Magic, which appears ready to clean house and is in need of guard play.

The Athletic's John Hollinger laid out a potential scenario that could work for both sides:

"[Aaron] Gordon might find a more desirable situation in Denver, where he would immediately fill the role vacated by Jerami Grant's departure a year ago. In this case, the likely terms are more clear: Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton and Denver's 2021 first-round pick. The Nuggets can't surrender two firsts, at least any time in the near future, because they're blocked until at least 2025 on the second one due to the Stepien rule and a 2023 conditional first they owe Oklahoma City, but the 2021 pick is fair game. Hampton, the 24th pick in the 2021 draft, becomes the second one.

"That price also gets Denver out of its most problematic contract, an $18 million a year deal for the oft-injured Harris, who actually might fit in better on an Orlando team more desperate for guard help. Note that a second player would have to go back from Orlando to Denver with Gordon in order to keep the Magic out of the tax, with the smart money being on Khem Birch."

With three days until the deadline, all options are on the table. 

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has emerged as the +110 betting favorite ($100 bet to win $110) for the 2020-21 NBA MVP award, per the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook on Saturday.

The news comes after Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James suffered a high ankle sprain that will keep him out indefinitely, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is second on the list with +550 odds. He is currently out with a left knee bone bruise suffered on March 12. Wojnarowski and ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported at the time that Embiid would be re-evaluated in two weeks.

James (+550), Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (+750), Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (+1100), Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (+1600), Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (+1600) and Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic (+1800) round out all the MVP candidates under the 20-1 odds marker.

The 26-year-old Jokic has been fantastic for the Nuggets this year, averaging 27.0 points on 56.6 percent shooting, 11.2 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

The advanced stats all favor Jokic's MVP candidacy too. Per Basketball Reference, Jokic's win share/48-minute rate of .310 is tops in the league. The same goes for his 11.8 box plus-minus, 5.1 VORP (value over replacement player), 9.5 win shares and 31.6 player efficiency rating.

Denver has also won eight of its last nine games to move to 25-16, good enough for fifth in the Western Conference.

Ultimately, all signs point to Jokic winning his first-ever MVP as of now, although nearly two months of regular-season basketball still remain.

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

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The Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic became just the second center in NBA history to reach 50 career triple-doubles during Tuesday night's win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He joined Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain in the exclusive group.

"It's nice, of course," Jokic told reporters. "It is something that [for] my legacy to put behind me. It's cool just to be in that group of guys, especially with one of the best players to ever play the game. Just a nice accomplishment."

The three-time All-Star tallied 37 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in the 128-97 victory.

Jokic is putting together an MVP-level campaign, averaging a career-high 27.3 points along with 11.0 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.6 threes across 35 appearances. He's shooting 56.9 percent from the field, including 41.7 percent from beyond the arc.

The 26-year-old Serbian superstar leads the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating and ranks seventh in ESPN's Real Plus-Minus.

"Nikola has 50 career triple-doubles, but he also has 20 games where he missed a triple-double by either one rebound or one assist," Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said. "It just speaks to his greatness. The guy doesn't get fatigued; he doesn't get tired."

Denver has needed every bit of that greatness because the immense strength of the Western Conference means its 20-15 record is only good for seventh place and leaves the squad two games clear of the 10th-place Dallas Mavericks (17-16).

That's not to say the Nuggets haven't had other players producing. Jamal Murray has been a strong second scoring option, while Michael Porter Jr. and Will Barton have been key contributors on the wing, but there's no doubt Jokic makes the team's offense run.

All told, Denver features one of the NBA's most effective offensive groups, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the front office seeks a rim protector before the March 25 trade deadline. The team ranks 18th in defensive efficiency, per ESPN.

Jokic and Co. have one more game before the All-Star break as they take on the Indiana Pacers (15-18) on Thursday night. They could extend their winning streak to four.

The Denver Nuggets are reportedly expecting to add a player to the health and safety protocols, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

This transaction could keep the player out until the All-Star break with just three games remaining in the first half of the season.

Denver is scheduled to face the Chicago Bulls on the road Monday before continuing the road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday and Indiana Pacers on Thursday.

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam was also placed in the health and safety protocols and is expected to miss at least three games, per Wojnarowski.

Losing any depth could be an issue for the Nuggets, who are looking to keep pace in the Western Conference. The squad entered Sunday with an 18-15 record, good for the No. 8 seed at the moment. 

Nikola Jokic has played like an MVP candidate this season, while Jamal Murray remains a weapon on the perimeter, but the squad must keep winning in order to match or exceed last year's run to the Western Conference Finals.

The Denver Nuggets lost 112-110 to the Washington Wizards on Thursday after coming up empty on a three-on-one break in the final seconds of regulation:

Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray led the break that finished with a contested and missed three-pointer from Facundo Campazzo, and after the game, he took the blame and provided a look at the sequence from another angle.

Murray spoke postgame about what he felt he should have done instead, per Mike Singer of the Denver Post.

"Jamal Murray put this game on him," Singer tweeted. "He said he should've shot it or given Facu a better pass. Also said he expected [forward Michael Porter Jr.] to cut to the basket. But he came back to the ball was in his hands, and he should've shot it." 

Porter, who ran to the corner on the break, noted that he could have cut to the hoop.

"I looked at the play afterwards," Porter told reporters. "One of us could've easily cut. Honestly, I could've cut and got a dunk. But we were just thinking, one of us is going to get a three. If the shot goes in, no one's talking about it."

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone called the sequence a "wasted opportunity" and said the team needed a layup.

Denver fell to 17-15 with the loss.